SPANISH 1 SYLLABUS

Instructor: Aldo Gonzlez

e-mail: agonzalez@lcps.k12.nm.us

2014-2015
phone: 575-527-9430 ext. 6326
Tutoring available: by appointment

Course Description
Spanish 1 is an introductory language course designed for students with no experience with the Spanish language. In this
course students will develop reading, writing, speaking and listening comprehension skills in Spanish. Students will learn and
practice the rules of pronunciation and basic grammar structures. In Spanish 1, students will listen to lectures, participate in
oral language exercises, read passages in Spanish, conjugate verbs, participate in class by doing group/individual work as well
as working on assigned homework, projects, and quizzes and exams. Students will be exposed to the Spanish language and
culture through videos, music, computer assisted/internet activities, written materials, guest speakers and teacher instruction, to
name a few teaching strategies.
Course Outline
See attached Scope and Sequence page.
Classroom Rules
The Student Handbook is very clear about what is and is not allowed in school. Disruptive/inappropriate behavior,
depending on the offense will be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on the situation and other determining factors.
In particular, please remember:
Come to class on time and be prepared for the days work with your homework and necessary class materials.
Be respectful of each students right to learn and my right to teach and do other activities that pertain to my job.
Be attentive, speak Spanish and work hard during the entire class. Use class time wisely.
Please wait for an appropriate time to ask the teacher about personal concerns.
Cell phones, MP3 Players, CD players and similar devices are distractions. Please turn them off during lessons. You
may listen to your own music during individual work time. I just ask that the volume is turned low. Any abuse of this
privilege will revoke your license of using aforementioned devices.
No electronic devices will be allowed during quizzes or tests.
Absences and tardies will be handled according to school policy.
Only drinks with caps/lids are allowed in class.
Passes will be given for emergencies only: restroom, nurse, water; not for snacks, sodas or to run to your car.
No passes will be given for the first 15 minutes or last 15 minutes of class. Abusive uses of the pass will result in
revocation of this privilege. Any request to leave the classroom must be asked in Spanish before permission is granted.
No foul language will be tolerated.
Honor Policy
I expect that all assignments be turned in ON TIME and COMPLETE. I expect that all assignments be done with individual effort.
Cheating will earn you a zero. If two or more assignments are identical all parties involved will receive a zero.
Work Expectations:
Interactive Notebook (a.k.a. Cuaderno): you are required to keep an Interactive Notebook (Cuaderno) with ALL materials pertaining
to this class. Cuadernos are intended to be an organization strategy. They also document your progress in learning a second language.
Also, your Cuaderno will be your reference guide for grammar, vocabulary, and a study guide for exams and quizzes. Your completed
Cuaderno is due the week before finals; however, it will be checked periodically throughout the year so keep it organized at all times.
Your completed Cuaderno and any checks will be part of your Exams/Quizzes grade. Please see the rubric for tabs guide. DO NOT
THROW THIS CUADERNO AWAY! You will need your notes for future Spanish classes.
Homework, projects and in-class activities: You will be doing a variety of activities in and outside of class, such as role-playing,
impromptu and planned presentations, cultural activities and projects, long and short-term take-home projects, essays and short writings,
book work, verb conjugation practice (listening, speaking and written), worksheets and packets, listening and speaking activities, videos,
voice recordings, conversations, etc. All work must be done in Spanish.
Speaking, listening, language use and participation: Speaking and using Spanish in class constitutes a large part of your learning
experience. In order for you to understand and learn the language well, I expect you to attempt to utilize only Spanish in class and have
fun with it. There will be no penalties if mistakes are made while speaking Spanish. Throughout the year you will be doing a variety of
assignments that deal with oral language. You will receive more information about individual oral language assignment as well as their
grading rubrics and due dates as the year progresses.

Attendance and Make Up Work

Attendance: If you are not physically in class, you will be marked absent regardless the reason. All absences need proper
documentation in order to be excused. If you are absent you must bring a doctors note or a parents note within three days of your return.
School related absences need proper documentation before the absence. If you miss nine or more days in any class, you will not receive
credit for the class even though you are passing the course. For nine or more absences you must file for an appeal.
Make-ups: Assignments assigned when you were absent must be turned in the day following the number of days you were out of class.
It is your responsibility to see me regarding your make-up work, especially exams and quizzes. Please do so at a time that will not disrupt
our class activities. It is your responsibility to make arrangements with me for your make-up tests. If you choose not make up a test or
quiz (by not making arrangements with me or by not showing up when arrangements are made) you will receive a 0 on that test or quiz.
Grading
Grading: You and your parents/guardians may access your grades and track your progress in class online. Go to
http://studentvue/lcps.k12.nm.us or http://parentvue/lcps.k12.nm.us
9wks Grade Weights
HW/Class work
Oral language skills
(Speaking, Listening,
Presentations)
20% Projects
40% Exams & Quizzes
20%
20%

Grading Scale
A= 90%-100%
B=80%-89%
C=70%-79%
D=60%-69%
F=59% -

Semester Average
1st 9wks = 40%
2nd 9wks = 40%
Final Exam = 20%

Graded work: All your graded work will have a mark or some sort of feedback. For most homework, in-class work, and small
assignments, you will see one of the following: if your paper has a stamp and no other markings, this means you have received full credit
based on completion of activities (we went over the assignment in class and you made corrections and annotations as we reviewed). You
will be expected to make your own corrections on these activities for your own feedback. If your paper has a check mark, this means you
have received partial credit (various reasons, incomplete, not done according to directions, etc.); if your paper has a minus, then you have
not received credit for the assignment. Everything else will have a percentage calculated.
Exams and Quizzes: Expect to have several quizzes for every topic covered (e.g. vocabulary, culture, grammar) and at least one exam
per lesson within a unit of study. Final exams will be cumulative (includes all info from Span1). All exams will be comprised of four
parts: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Projects and cultural activities: You will be asked to do several projects and activities that pertain to the different cultures in the
Spanish speaking world, as well as demonstrating language skills. I will inform you about activities and projects as well as their due dates
and rubrics as the year progresses.
Extra credit: Extra credit may be offered at various times during the semester. Students wishing to participate in extra credit
assignments must complete all regular assignments to be eligible for extra credit and be turned in on their due dates (must not have any 0s
or missing assignments). Lack of extra credit will not be detrimental to a students grade. More information about extra credit
assignments will be given as the year progresses.
Late Work and Retake Policy
If the late assignment is more than two weeks late, it will not be accepted. Late assignments within the two-week grace period will incur
you a lower grade (1/2 of points earned).
You will not be able to retake an exam per se; however, you will be able to make corrections on exams and will receive partial credit for
each question corrected. You will have one week to make corrections after an exam has been graded and handed back to you. These
corrections will need to be done on your own time whether it is before school, during lunch, or after school.

CUADERNO ORGANIZATION GUIDE

YOU MUST HAVE A COMPOSITION NOTEBOOK FOR YOUR CUADERNO.
*CUADERNOS MUST ONLY CONTAIN MATERIALS PERTAINING TO SPANISH CLASS.*
YOU MUST ORGANIZE YOUR CUADERNO BY SECTION AND CHRONOLOGICALLY (BY DATE) STARTING FROM
AUGUST AND ENDING IN MAY. PLEASE LABEL AND ORGANIZE YOUR TABS AS FOLLOWS:
TAB 1: NDICE (table of contents)
TAB 2: SILABARIO Y CONTRATOS (syllabus and student contracts)
TAB 3: CALENTAMIENTOS (warm-ups)
TAB 4: VOCABULARIO (vocabulary)
TAB 5: GRAMTICA (grammar)
TAB 6: CULTURA Y GEOGRAFA (culture and geography)
TAB 7: DESTREZAS ORALES (listening and speaking)
TAB 8 EXMENES Y PRUEBITAS (exams and quizzes)
TAB 9: PROYECTOS (projects)
TAB 10: MISCELNEO (miscellaneous)

Tear from other pages and turn in to your teacher A.S.A.P.

------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------

CONTRACT
STUDENT

I have read the preceding class rules, expectations, required materials, and procedures. I agree that the aforementioned are
reasonable and I agree to follow them. I further agree it is my responsibility to ask for help if I discover that I need some.

______________________

________________________

Student: Print name

Student signature

_______________
Date

PARENT/GUARDIAN

I have read the preceding class rules, expectations, required materials, and procedures. I agree that the aforementioned are
reasonable and I will encourage my child to follow them and to request help if s/he needs it.

_______________________

________________________

_______________

Parent/guardian: Print Name

Parent/guardian signature

Date

Student, I hope that you are as excited about this class as I am. If you are willing and make the effort, not only will you enjoy the
class, but you will be successful.
Parent/Guardian, it is important that you become involved in your childs education. If you have questions and/or concerns do not
hesitate to call me at school 527-9330 ext. 6326, e-mail me at agonzalez@lcps.k12.nm.us, arrange a parent teacher conference or
stop by my classroom (first floor, A building, rm A133). THANK YOU!

PARENT/GUARDIAN INFORMATION

COMPUTER ACCESS SURVEY

Parent/Guardian, please provide me with the following

contact information. Email addresses will be used for
ParentVue and phone numbers as I.C.E. and
Remind101 app.

At times students will be asked to use computers/technology outside of class to

complete assignments. If a student does not have reliable computer/ internet access
then alternate arrangements will need to be made. Please indicate whether or not your
student has access to such resources outside of school.

E-MAIL:_________________________________

_______Yes, my student has reliable computer and internet access

CELL #: _________________________________

_______My student has reliable computer access only no internet

HOME#:_________________________________

_______My student does not have access to a computer or internet on a regular basis.